Tree Maintenance
How should I maintain my street trees?
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Home owners are responsible for:
Mulching
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Mulch should be no more than two to three inches thick. This includes previous year’s mulch.
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Mulch should not be mounded up around the trunk of the tree. It should be tapered away from the trunk.
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Additional top soil or edging should not be added to the top of the mulch. For the health of tree it is important to be able to see the root flare.
Watering
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Newly installed trees generally require one inch of water every seven to 10 days for the first year after installation.
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If there is an irrigation system present, be sure to monitor
rainfall levels so you do not overwater. Overwatering can lead to lack of oxygen in the soil, causing stress and possible death for the tree.
General care
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Exercise caution when applying chemical treatments to your lawn and landscape plants. Some trees are more sensitive to herbicides than others. Remember, most lawn weed killers are designed for broad-leaved plants — of which trees are a member. Be careful how you apply these chemicals around tree trunks and lower branches to avoid overspray.
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Follow manufacturer’s directions. More is not better.
- Do not use herbicides to control root sprouts emerging around the tree trunk. These are connected to the tree’s root system. These should be cut back with hand pruners.
Why are trees being removed when sidewalks are being replaced?
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The sidewalk replacement program is an initiative to ensure public safety and is in compliance with the recent revisions to the A.D.A. (Americans with Disabilities Act). Under this program any two adjacent sidewalk panels with a one inch or greater degree of vertical separation need to be replaced. The area under these raised panels must be excavated to correct the cause of the misalignment.
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The two main issues causing these problems are soil settlement and tree roots pushing up the panels. The tree roots are cut and removed so the replacement panel can be installed according to code. Older areas of the City have a greater incidence of sidewalk issues. These areas have been addressed first. All City sidewalks will be inspected as the program progresses.